Steve Williams, who serves as Chief Engineering Officer for K&N Engineering, Inc. in Riverside, California has been racing drag cars for over 25 years. During this time Williams has earned four NHRA Division 7 championship titles and has amassed over 40 “Wally” trophies. Eight of those trophies had been for national single-event wins. However, during the last 25 years Steve Williams has had a string of bad luck when it comes to racing at his home track, and the birthplace of NHRA drag racing in Pomona, California. “I’ve had the worst luck at Pomona over the last 20 years, but this weekend the car was flawless,” said Williams.

Steve Williams lined up against Hollis Colleasure in the final round of Super Gas competition at the 55th annual Circle K Winternationals held at the The Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, California. This race signaled the beginning of the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Williams was behind the wheel of his 1963 Chevrolet Corvette bodied Super Gas roadster taking on Colleasure and his 1927 Ford. The starting light, nicknamed the Christmas Tree, signals the beginning of the race by lighting a series of colored bulbs and varies in length to keep drivers on their toes. According to Williams “It was a long tree with a lot of glare, making it hard to see the lights.” Steve’s bad luck streak was broken when his opponent Colleasure left the line too early, triggering the red light, and handing the win over to Williams.

Steve Williams has earned four NHRA Division 7 championship titles and has amassed over 40 “Wally” trophies; however he had previously been unable to claim a win at Pomona Raceway

Steve Williams couldn’t believe it when he saw his win light come on at the end of the track and he was ecstatic to get his first win at the famed Pomona race track in front of friends & family

Steve couldn’t believe it when he saw his win light come on at the end of the track. He was ecstatic, not only because it was his first win at the famed Pomona race track, but also because all his friends and family were there to see him win. Steve isn’t able to take his wife and daughter with him to all the NHRA races, so he was happy to have finally won on his home turf. Williams is 59 years old and admitted he won’t have too many more races. “If I had retired from racing without winning at Pomona, I would have always had regrets,” said Williams. “I can finally cross that one off the bucket list.”

Steve Williams runs a second race car; a TNT Race Cars built dragster, in the Super Comp class. Williams was doing well in the Super Comp class but was ultimately beaten in the fourth round by Guy Aguayo, who got a quicker start. Steve is quick to admit that he couldn’t be an accomplished drag racer, head of R&D for K&N Filters, and a family man without tremendous support from a great group of people he surrounds himself with. “None of this would be possible without the support of my wife, my daughter Shelby, and my crew,” said Williams.

Steve Williams isn’t able to take his wife and daughter with him to all his NHRA Super Gas and Super Comp races, so he was happy to have finally won a race on his home turf for them to see

Steve is quick to admit that he couldn’t be an accomplished drag racer, head of R&D for K&N, and a family man without tremendous support, “None of this would be possible without the support of my wife, my daughter Shelby, and my crew,” said Williams

Steve has gotten his 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season off to a terrific start with his win during the Circle K Winternationals held at the The Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, California. Hopefully this win signals more great things to come in the 2015 NHRA race season.